Tabata was born in Kagoshima Prefecture on April 16, 1979.

After graduating from high school, he joined Japan Football League club Albirex Niigata in 1998.

In 2007, Tabata was selected Japan national beach soccer team.

He played at Beach Soccer World Cup 7 times (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017).

[1] This biographical article related to a Japanese association football defender born in the 1970s is a stub.